Urgent Need to Restore PEPFAR Funding for South Africa’s HIV Programs

I am writing to express deep concern over the suspension of the President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) funding for South Africa and to urge you to support the immediate restoration of this critical aid. PEPFAR has been a pillar of the global fight against HIV/AIDS since its creation in 2003, providing treatment and prevention services that have saved millions of lives. Halting this funding now puts those gains at risk and threatens the lives of millions of South Africans who depend on this support. South Africa has the largest HIV epidemic in the world, with 7.8 million people living with the virus. According to South Africa’s Health Ministry, 5.5 million people currently receive antiretroviral treatment, much of which is supported by PEPFAR. The program contributes over $400 million annually—approximately 17% of the total funding for South Africa’s HIV response. The suspension of this funding directly jeopardizes treatment programs, which could lead to severe consequences, including increased transmission rates and drug resistance due to treatment interruptions. The decision to freeze PEPFAR’s aid comes as the program faces political attacks in the U.S., with opponents falsely linking it to abortion services despite PEPFAR’s long-standing bipartisan support and clear focus on HIV/AIDS treatment. While U.S. officials claim the pause is meant to reassess the program’s implementation, South African Health Minister Joe Phaahla has warned that this sudden funding halt will have "a huge negative impact" on the country’s ability to sustain its HIV response. PEPFAR’s impact has been undeniable. Since its inception, the program has invested more than $100 billion in fighting HIV/AIDS globally, saving an estimated 25 million lives. In South Africa alone, it has helped build healthcare infrastructure, train medical personnel, and provide critical services that have drastically reduced HIV-related deaths and new infections. Suspending this funding undermines not only public health efforts in South Africa but also global health security, as instability in HIV treatment could lead to the resurgence of the epidemic. The United States has long been a leader in the fight against HIV/AIDS, and turning our back on South Africa now would be a devastating setback to global health progress. I urge you to take immediate action to restore this funding and ensure that millions of people do not lose access to life-saving treatment. Thank you for your leadership on this critical issue. I look forward to your response. SOURCE: https://apnews.com/article/south-africa-trump-pepfar-hiv-aid-freeze-0d9def2a63b0e2f53bfda9441baf584d